Chapter 148: New Testing Ground (3)

As the ceremonial greetings ended, the flow of the air changed.

The lights of the interpreter flickered, and people's gazes crossed cautiously.

Director Leonard opened his mouth first.

“Now, let us get into the main point. Today is a place for drawing a new future.”

As the interpreter translated the English into Korean, several members of the Korean delegation smiled at the same time.

On the surface, they looked very relaxed, but behind those smiles, each of their calculations was spinning rapidly.

After a brief silence flowed, Vice Chairman Lee Han-kyu of Hanmyeong Group slowly grabbed the microphone.

His voice was low yet soft as if water were flowing.

However, an unwavering resolution was laid within it.

“First, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak.”

The translation followed.

A lot of leisure was felt in his way of speaking.

Seeing how the ends of his words dropped smoothly, it seemed he had practiced sufficiently in advance.

“Hanmyeong Group is reviewing a plan to establish an automobile production base within the U.S. It is not a mere relocation of a factory, but we intend to build a localized production system. For this, we plan to dispatch skilled Korean technicians and, at the same time, directly employ thousands of local workers.”

While those words were being translated, a small murmur spread throughout the meeting room.

The gazes of the U.S. side officials changed slightly.

Director Leonard reacted immediately.

“That is a truly welcome proposal. It will be a great help to the regional economy and employment.”

A bright smile was drawn on the corners of his mouth.

Senior Joanne Madison, sitting in the seat next to him, quickly wrote down notes.

Lee Han-kyu did not take his hand off the microphone and slowly continued his words.

“What we are thinking of is not a simple entry. We want to build a sustainable automobile industry ecosystem that Korea and the U.S. create together. We will increase the local parts procurement ratio and contribute to the stabilization of the supply chain. However, in order to make this a reality, full support from the U.S. government is necessary.”

He spread the documents with his fingertips and continued speaking.

“First, we want the simplification of environmental licensing procedures when establishing a new automobile factory. Second, tariff reductions on electric vehicle parts. And third, relaxation of visa issuance procedures for research and development personnel. If these three are realized, Hanmyeong Group can promise the employment of more than 5,000 people within the U.S.”

While the translation continued, Leonard’s gaze became one level brighter.

He laughed shortly and gathered his hands.

“The proposal made by the Vice Chairman will be welcomed not only by me but also by the White House. We also consider the expansion of employment as more important than anything else.”

As that happened, Joanne leaned her body slightly toward Leonard.

While maintaining an expressionless face, she lightly covered her mouth with her hand.

Then she whispered in a low voice.

“Manage your expression, Director. It is too obvious that you like it openly.”

Leonard coughed needlessly while turning his gaze away for a moment as if he were embarrassed.

However, the smile formed on the corners of his mouth did not easily disappear.

He lightly tapped the table with his fingertips.

It seemed his calculation of how much the story that came out in this place right now would benefit him had finished in his head.

Employment of 5,000 people and an electric vehicle factory. And a sustainable industrial ecosystem.

Those words were connected as one sentence in his head.

If he did well this time, even the White House would remember his name.

Leonard’s gaze headed aimlessly toward the window on the opposite side.

The silhouettes of reporters could be vaguely seen.

He already recalled the headline that would be published the next day in his heart.

[U.S. Department of Commerce Successfully Attracts Large-Scale Investment Through Negotiations with Korean Delegation]

If that sentence were published, the name Michael Leonard would also be written along with it.

While Joanne focused with a still cold face, Michael fell into his own world for a moment.

A smile was formed on the corners of his mouth.

Joanne looked at Leonard slightly, and her brow narrowed a bit.

She put down the pen she was holding and leaned her body toward the microphone.

“Vice Chairman of Hanmyeong Group, the plan you just mentioned is interesting, but specifically which state are you basing the 5,000 employees and the expansion of the local parts procurement ratio on?”

In an instant, the inside of the meeting room became quiet.

Joanne continued speaking.

“Simplification of environmental licensing or tariff reductions are not the jurisdiction of the federal government. Regulations and tax policies differ for each state. I would like to hear specific grounds on whether negotiations are already underway with which state government, or if it is still in the planning stage.”

As the translation ended, the expressions of several members of the Korean delegation hardened slightly.

Even Leonard, who had been sitting with a smile, turned his gaze to look at Joanne.

She intentionally did not look sideways.

Lee Han-kyu caught his breath for a moment and then slowly bowed his head toward the microphone.

His gaze changed in an instant, and a bit of strength was added to his way of speaking which had been soft until a moment ago. ℯℯ𝑙.

“That is a good question. Of course, we did not come to this place without preparation. We have already finished preliminary negotiations with two state governments, California and Georgia. The licensing and tax conditions are in the review stage, and at the same time, we are expecting advice from the Department of Commerce regarding the personnel supply system.”

As those words ended, Joanne nodded her head for the first time, and a smile appeared on the corners of her mouth.

Leonard clicked his tongue toward her inwardly.

Then, he opened his mouth to ease the atmosphere even by force.

“Good. Hanmyeong Group’s proposal is clear and practical. Since specific negotiations are already underway, there will be much for our side to support as well.”

He smiled slightly and looked around.

“Above all, isn't this kind of discussion the essence of today? Let us create specific possibilities together.”

As those words were translated, the air inside the meeting room softened a bit.

Vice Chairman Lee Han-kyu gave a short smile and offered words of gratitude.

At that time, a low-pitched voice echoed through the microphone.

“If that is the case, then it will be our turn this time.”

Everyone’s gaze focused on one place.

Chairman Choi Jae-seong of Cheongshin Group grabbed the microphone.

He was dressed in a dark gray suit with his hair neatly combed back. And a charisma emanating from his presence itself was felt.

“We, Cheongshin, are planning to invest in the U.S. market centered on energy infrastructure.”

While the translation continued, he went through the documents with a firm gaze and organized them.

“We intend to focus on the stability of the long-term energy supply chain rather than short-term profits. In particular, we wish to cooperate in improving aged power grids and natural gas storage infrastructure. We are already in contact with two energy companies in the Texas region, and the investment scale will be around 2 billion dollars.”

There was no wavering in Chairman Choi Jae-seong’s heavy voice.

He stopped speaking for a moment and looked at the U.S. side officials, including Leonard and Joanne.

“Cheongshin Group has always moved with the philosophy that trust comes before technology. If the U.S. wants stable supply, we are ready to create that foundation together.”

Those words sounded like a proposal for cooperation, but there was a line within them.

“Of course, in that process, stability and guarantees as much as we have invested will be necessary.”

As the translation ended, the air in the meeting room was swept up in tension again.

He stopped speaking for a moment and wore a meaningful smile.

“Energy is not a simple business. It is like the heart of a country. To make the heart beat, should we not all join hands at an equal position?”

At those words, the expressions of the U.S. side officials hardened.

It sounded nice to say equal position, but this was practically a declaration of war.

On the other hand, Leonard smiled lightly. He did not know either.

A hunch that he had met a difficult opponent passed through his head as if brushing by.

Choi Jae-seong slowly leaned his body against the back of the chair.

His presence was still weighing down the meeting room.

A brief silence flowed, and the air inside the meeting room was strangely flipped.

Some of the U.S. side officials turned over documents with their heads lowered, and someone pressed down hard with a pen to represent their uncomfortable feelings instead.

At that time, Leonard opened his mouth quietly.

“Good. I heard your words well, Chairman.”

The translation followed, but strength was still laid in Leonard’s voice.

“We also consider trust as important. However, the expression equal position... is a bit interesting.”

His gaze headed toward Choi Jae-seong. Each other’s gazes met for a moment.

“Is cooperation not something possible only when each person clearly recognizes the role they have?”

He stopped speaking for a moment and then, while wearing a smile, gathered his two hands and opened his mouth while placing his chin on them.

“The U.S. has built a system upon that foundation while bearing the risks of the energy market for a long time. It would be more than welcome if Cheongshin Group breathes in new energy, but that is merely to the extent of transfusing new blood into a heart that already exists.”

While it was being delivered through translation, Joanne dropped her gaze down and the corners of her mouth rose slightly.

Leonard continued his words leisurely.

“Feeling the heartbeat together... Well, fine. However, isn't it already decided who will coordinate the pulse?”

Those words sounded like a joke, but a firm message that the U.S. was already the center was hidden.

Choi Jae-seong laughed shortly. That smile was extremely cold like frost.

“To prevent that pulse from stopping, should you not sometimes transfuse with new blood.”

In an instant, the air inside the meeting room sank heavily.

As the lights of the translation device flickered slowly and the meaning was conveyed every time each other’s language was delivered, the meaning became sharp like a well-sharpened blade.

From the U.S. side seats, someone quietly raised their hand.

It was a man in a dark navy suit, Edison Harper, the Deputy Director of the Department of Energy.

“That is a good metaphor. Heart and blood... It is very impressive. However, what we deal with is not a metaphor but numbers. A heart might be symbolic, but energy moves with numbers.”

He handed the prepared documents to the Korean side and continued speaking.

“Currently, the domestic ratio of LNG storage facilities within the U.S. is 78%. 94% of the maintenance and repair personnel for power infrastructure are our citizens. In this situation, if foreign capital enters and gains influence over core infrastructure, the problem goes beyond the level of simple investment cooperation.”

His gaze moved to Chairman Choi Jae-seong.

“You said Cheongshin Group would provide that much capital and technology. Then I shall ask one thing. To what extent are you prepared to open that technology to the U.S. government?”

As the translation ended, the inside of the meeting room became quiet as if it had stopped for a moment.

Leonard crossed his arms and lowered his head.

Joanne revealed confidence in her expression as if she liked it very much.

Chairman Choi Jae-seong’s smile slowly faded.

He spoke as if pulling the microphone with his hand.

“That is something possible only after mutual trust is built sufficiently and enough.”

Edison Harper smirked and countered shortly.

“Trust... we have always built trust through proof, Chairman.”

Even within that short conversation, it was as if a giant wall were clashing right before the eyes.

The air of the meeting room was pulled taut again.

Within that chill, I watched the two while tapping the tip of the pen I was quietly holding.

It was not a simple place for negotiation, but a sight like a tug-of-war for power continued tautly.